Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) does vital work in Gaza, the West Bank and within Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon.

In the past 2&1/2 years, over 71,000 people within Gaza have been killed and 94% of the hospitals have been damaged or destroyed. Due to the damage, shortage of supplies, and the deaths of many of the medical staff, no hospital is fully operational within Gaza. The aid blockade also caused mass starvation and despite a ceasefire, Israel has violated the ceasefire at least 1450 times killing 500+ people and injuring nearly 3 times as many.

Israel has also introduced a new rule that international organisations, like MAP, must hand over a list of all their international and local employees. Many of these organisations have refused as they fear their staff will be targeted and killed. As such, many of these organisations are banned from working in Gaza but continue to do so through local groups and partners on the ground, making your support all the more vital.

We are taking part in the Nicaragua Tuktuk Challenge from February 20th-March 1st and will be keeping you updated along the way! This Tuktuk Challenge will require us to learn how to drive and repair a tuktuk (hopefully an unnecessary skill!) as we drive around Nicaragua competing in various challenges around the country.

Liz has already been busy fundraising through her stained glass, some of Liz's friends have very generously organised some fundraising events, and we've kindly been sponsored by Norwegian Log Cabins which currently totals just over £1000. Now for the cheeky part, if you are looking forward to the chaos that will ensue and are willing and able to support our amazing charities (Medical Aid for Palestinians, Orangutan Appeal UK, APOPO Hero Rats), we really do appreciate it as all three are close to our hearts.